Mary, Bon, Tom, Jessie, Joyce and Jim and their familiesFamily reunion at Willows Park, Meltonlocal identities, local architecture, local special interest groups

Date of birth 27th April 1893 Born at Spring Hill – Kyneton Parents – Thomas and Mary Elizabeth nee Coates Lang. The family lived in High Street Melton 1896. He started his schooling at Melton State School in Nov 1897. Mr Lang was the Head Teacher from 1896 – 1917. Horace enlisted on the 29th March 1915 24th Battalion D Company and sailed on the Euripides on the 8th May to Egypt. They landed on Gallipoli in early September returning to Egypt at the end of the year. In April on 1916 Horace and his brother Thomas had an opportunity to meet for a few hours before he moved onto France. He received the military medal in 1916 “For conspicuous gallantry in constructing and holding an advanced bombing post near Flers on 18/19 November within close range of the enemy. The garrison had to remain motionless throughout the day but Corpl. Lang refused to be relieved until his company left the trenches, setting a most encouraging example of endurance.” In May 1917 the Battalion was near Arras – Bullecourt. On 3rd May he was last seen alive carrying a Lewis Gun, and wounded making his way to the casualty station according to witnesses reporting to the court of enquiry. The family, in Melton had a first heard that he had been wounded, or was a prisoner. My grandmother Jessie Barrie and the Lang family went to Port Melbourne as the troop ships arrived hoping they would find someone who might know of his fate. AWM records and Red Cross files reveal the extent of the efforts that family and friends made enquiring about his fate. In December 1917 he was declared Killed in Action on May 3rd at Bullecourt where he is commemorated. Horace Lang postcardRear: Dear Jessie & All, I am in the pink not doing to bad. Haven't had any letters from you for some time. Hope you haven't forgotte me. Don't be so long nest time. Letter later from your loving bro Horace. (PS) Photo is very crook. (Front: Yours Horace, France 28/2/17)local identities

William Horace Barrie was born on 11 October 1915. William H Barrie was also known as Horace.Photographs of William Barrie local identities

Tom Barrie married Marion Ferris at Christ Church Melton on 11th of May 1939. They lived on the family farm at Ferris Road Melton. They had one son, Ian who has continued in farming in MeltonPhotographs taken at Darlingsford, Melton and Melton Mechanic's Institutelocal identities

In 1939 when World War 11 erupted Jim and Horace enlisted in the RAAF Jim to become a pilot and Horace a navigator. James Edward Barrie enlisted in the RAAF on 21st June 1941, aged 19 years. He was sent to Canada and then later to England to become a Spitfire Pilot. Half way through the War he returned to Australia to be sent north to fight the Japanese. At one stage he had to bail out over the Pacific after his engine had failed. Fortunately, he had time to radio his position before he abandoned his Spitfire. He dropped his boot out to determine how far below the water was, parachuted down inflated his dinghy and waited to be rescued. He was picked up very quickly by a rescue crew just as a heavy fog descended, or he may never have been found. He lost many of his mates in that Squadron in the Pacific, it was a particularly vital time for the Allies and these boys played a major part in turning the tide against the Japanese. This information has been taken from the writings of Mary Robinson, sister of Jim. My parents Bon and Edna Barrie spoke about this incident leaving a vivid impression in my mind as a young child. Jim is mentioned in the book Two Steps to Tokyo. A Story of the RAAF in the Trobriand and Admiralty Islands by Gordon Powell Chaplain, RAAF. After the war Jim returned to Darlingsford. In 1953 he married Wilma Ryan of Yarram. He continued in the family farming tradition obtaining a Soldier Settlement Block at Shelford. Jim regularly attended the ANZAC day march to the Shrine. He died in August 2004 This account has been compiled by his niece Wendy Barrie Sons of Charles (Ernie) and Jessie Barrie of Darlingsford Meltonlocal identities

James Edward BARRIE was born on 17 January 1922 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia. He died on 23 August 2004.He married Wilma Agnes RYAN on 06 June 1953 in Yarram, Victoria, AustraliaBlack and white photographs of Jim Barrielocal identities

Jessie, known as Ma Barrie to her grandchildren, was the daughter of a school teacher. The family lived in various locations around Central Victoria, particularly Pastoria and Melton. When her father was Head Teacher at Melton State School no 430, she met her future husband, CE Barrie. Jessie May married Charles Ernest Barrie in the Methodist Church Melton on the 23rd August 1906. They lived in the newly built house beside the Chaff Mill on the corner of Station and Brooklyn road Melton South. In April 1910 the family moved to a farm in Trundle NSW. The Chaff Mill was sold to Glover Onians - HSK Ward. The family returned to Melton in 1911, buying the “Darlingsford” farm in May. In 1916 they lived in Elizabeth Street, Moonee Ponds where the children attend Bank Street School, Ascot Vale. The children developed diphtheria Mary and Bon were transferred to Fairfield Hospital. In March 1919 the family returned to live at Melton at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish influenza. Mary, Bon and Edgar returned to Melton School. Following the death of CEB in a car accident in 1931 she was left to bring up her children on her own; the youngest Jim, aged 9 and eldest Mary, aged 24. Jessie left ‘Darlingsford’ in 1946 when her sons had safely returned from WW II. She stayed at Yarram for a time where her married twin daughters lived when more grandchildren were born and spent the remainder of her life living with various family members. Jessie died in 1960 while living with Mary and Keith.Jessie Barrie with her grandchildren at Darlingsford, Meltonlocal identities

Family at the Melton School no 430 Celebrations local identities, education

Tom and May at Ferris Road, Meltonlocal identities, council

Jennifer Coral Scott [Barrie] & Peter Barrie, Wendy Barrie, Edna Myers [Barrie], Vivienne Developments representative, Wilma Ryan [Barrie] & Jim Barrielocal identities, council

Bruce Barrie, James Edward (Jim), Peter Ernest Barrie, Wendy Elizabeth Barrie and Jessie May Lang [Barrie] Jim with Anne and Robert, Peter, Wendy & Heather rear, Ma (Jessie) Barrie with Bruce local identities

Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Robinson [Owies] is one of the children in the 'Robinson children In front of the well, barn in background' photo The children of the Robinson family visiting Darlingsfordlocal identities

Charles Ernest BARRIE and Jessie May LANG daughters Jessie Maude and Dorothy Joyce Barrie were born on the 6th November 1920, in Bacchus Marsh . Jessie Maud BARRIE was born on 06 November 1920 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, she married Colin Leslie RICHARDSON on12 September 1942 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. Jessie and Colin had four children, Pamela, Barre, Helen and Graeme. She died on 26 February 1994. Dorothy Joyce BARRIE married Thomas Charles COLLINS on 07 June 1951 in Yarram, Victoria, Australia (or Strathmore Presbyterian Church. Thomas and Dorothy had three children Geoffrey, Julie and Neil. She died on 18 March 2003. Jessie and Joyce Barrie at Darlingsford, Meltonlocal identities

Jessie May Lang [Barrie] local identities

Tom Barrie served the community in the following Shire of Melton Councilor Member for 32 years 1941–1970 Elected as Councilor for Melton South 1970–1973 Councilor for Rockbank 1943–1944 Shire President for three terms 1958–1959 ditto 1964–1965 ditto Council Representative: Bacchus Marsh High School and Western Suburbs Municipalities. Representative on delegation to prevent Melton post primary students being sent to Deer Park prior to the establishment of Melton High SchoolPossibly being presented with Shire of Melton illuminated address at the Melton Shire Officeslocal identities, council

Charles Edgar BARRIE and Margaret Clare HODGKINSON's children Vivian and David David Ross Barrie, Robert Wesley Barrie and Vivian Barrie at the back gate of Ferris Rdlocal identities

Augustus Shebler born in Berlin, Prussia in 1827 was a Melton resident started a store on the Flat at Bryan and Sherwin street in 1855. He built the Golden Fleece Hotel in 1865. He died at the Golden Fleece Hotel in 1908. The building, was demolished during the 1970s due to development in the area and was rebuilt in another location. The Watts and Jongebloed famlies are descendants of Shebler.Event took place on High Street Meltonlocal identities, local architecture

Bakery Square–Site of 19th Century Jongebloed family bakery, grocery shops and residence demolished 1970 and later hardware shop erected c 1960. Gorrfried Jongebloed was born in 1857 and came to Melton in 1887 as a Captain in the Mercantile Marine. In 1888 he married Marie Antionette, second daughter of Mr Shebler, and took over the bakery and green grocers business. Ten children were born to the family- Gerhard, Annette, Gorrfried (dec 1937), Emil, (dec 1947), Nicholas, Julius, Theckla, Augustus, Marie and Margarethe, - who settled in various parts of Victoria and are, in the bakery businesses. Mr and Mrs Jongebloed senior carried on the businesses in Melton until 1926, when one of their sons Emil, took over. Mr Jongebloed, senior, died in 1930 at the age of 73 years; and his wife living until 8th October 1946, when she died at the age of 80 years. After the sudden death of Emil, in Jan., at the age of 49 years, the business had been conducted by two sons “Pat” and Bryan. Store closed down in 1970 and was demolished in 1976/1977. In the photo left to right isBryan, sister-in-law Shirley. Her children Meryl, Daryl and Debra. Mrs Martha Myers mother of Edna was the photographer. local identities

Alexander Blackwood original allotment owner. Other occupants include Chalmer, Wraith 1920, McDonald, Bardsley 1948. 1970 became Arnolds News Agent. It also operated as a State Savings Bank Agent. Demolished in 1974.Jean and George Arnold, and Martha Myers at the front of the news agency local identities, local architecture

Built in 1897, "it is one of the best-known of the Melton farm properties established in the historic break-up of the large pastoral estates at the turn of the twentieth century". Melton Heritage Study Stage 2 Volume 3Farm house located at 2389-2485, Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, Diggers Rest. local architecture, local identities

1950 decade HAY FORK - A local invention. Bill and Arthur Gillespie and Bon Barrie In the early 1950’s Bill Gillespie of Bulmans Lane had been experimenting in developing a machine to improve the collection of hay sheaves at harvesting and stack building time. The ripened crop was cut by a reaper and binder which bundled the storks into sheaves tied with binder twine. The reaper and binder was towed by a tractor by the mid 1940s previously teams of draught horses were used to pull the reaper and binder. A photograph taken at the Barrie farm shows three binders the first being towed with a tractor and the others with horse teams. Two workmen were needed to operate the binder when cutting a crop. The sheaves collected on the binder and released onto the ground and were scattered across the paddocks. Using a conventional two pronged pitch fork the harvest hands collected the sheaves and placed each one cut edge on the ground in an upright position and layered with about 15 sheaves into an apex shape to form was is known as a stook. The shape of the stook allowed for drying and draining of water if rain had occurred. Prior to the invention of the mechanical hayfork this was a laborious task requiring each sheaf to be pitched onto a tray truck and moved to the location of the haystack. The mechanised HAYFORK was operated by one person on tractor greatly reducing the need for gangs of labourers. At harvest time farmers had relied on itinerant teams of workers descending on the district looking for work. The three Barrie brothers on their adjoining farms combined forces to cut their crop at its optimum time while the weather was in their favour. Up to many 20 workers at times formed a team in earlier times. Agricultural university students were also keen to gain practical experience in the field. Each of the brothers had a particular skill, and Tom Barrie was the expert on stack building. The district haystacks had a distinctive shape and could be recognised by their builder. Bill Gillespie’s first operational HAY FORK consisted of a large 13 pronged fork situated forward of the truck cabin. It was attached with iron girders and mounted on the rear of the cabin to the tray of his British Bedford truck. It was constructed in metal and iron and welded in the farmers work sheds. The mechanism was raised and lowered by the driver scooping along the ground to pick up a complete stook to raise high enough to deposit all the sheaves in one stook onto the stack or truck tray. The fork section was released by a rope and operated by the driver in the cabin. This model was trialled on the Barrie farm at Ferris Lane. It proved to be very successful and the Barrie/ Gillespie brothers went on to develop a HAYFORK which attached to a tractor and was operated with a series of levers and was raised and lowered hydraulically. It was detached from the tractor when stacking was completed. In its early days farmers travelling along the Western Highway called at the Barrie farm at Ferris Lane to inspect its construction and operation of the invention. It became a widely adopted by farmers throughout the State. It was being used on Wattie Palmer’s farm on Bridge Road Melton South in 1997. Farming in Melton, hay growing and stack building. agriculture, local identities

Jim was the youngest child of Charles Ernest Ernie Barrie “Darlingsford” of the farming family property Melton 1911. He was the brother of Ernest Wesley Bon, Charles Edgar, Thomas Lindsay. The family connection with this original property remained until the last part of the E W Barrie section was sold in 1982. Jim’s parents were Charles (Ernie) and Jessie Barrie of Darlingsford Melton. Tom farmed the family property with his father and brothers, and later the Ferris Road property which continued with his son Ian. His childhood interest in horses began with the draft horses kept at the bluestone stable and barn at Darlingsford. When the stables were empty in the late 1980s visit, he vividly recalled the names of the horses he had handled in his youth. When the draft horse became obsolete with the introduction of tractors and trucks this interest continued with the breeding and training of harness racersTom Barrie's harvest and Jim Barrie at Shelfordlocal identities, agriculture

Hay stacking at Ferris Roadagriculture, local identities

Peter Ernest born Nov 7th 1945. Peter and his brother Robert continued operating the farm on Ferris Road. Peter remembers the horses being used. Robert and Peter worked with their father uncles and cousins until the decline of farming and the impending division of the properties and the encroaching urban development made farming no longer viable. The remaining connection of the Barrie family with property known as Darlingsford finally ceased in 1982. Peter continues to combine a small farm with his earth moving business, known as Melton Plant Hire (MPH) . Peter’s wife Jennie and daughters Deborah and Coralie administer the MPH (Melton Plant Hire) Office, and assist with operation the machinery. Photographs of Peter Barrie from different eraslocal identities, agriculture

William and Eliza Daley were living in Ann St Williamstown 1863. Their daughter Ann was born in 1864 and in 1865 daughter Elzabeth was born in MeltonPortrait photo of Ann taken at Alba Studio, Hobartlocal identities, pioneer families

Ellen was born in 1865 and attended school the same time as Lizzie Daley. Passed away in 1921Portrait photo of Ellenlocal identities

In the early 1900’s Charles Ernest Barrie and his brother Ted were in partnership in a Chaff cutting and Ha y processing Mill on the corner of Station and Brooklyn road Melton South. By 1906 Charles Ernest and James Edwin were in partnership in the Station Road mill when a connecting rail line across Brooklyn Road for a siding was constructed to the Melton Railway Station. In 1911 the Mill’s letterhead shows C.E. BARRIE Hay Pressing and Chaff Cutting Mills. This Mill as sold to H S K Ward in 1916 and stood until 1977 when it burnt down in a spectacular fire.Owned by C.E Barrie. Buildings were on the west side of Station Road in Melton South, 100 metres north of Brooklyn Roadlocal identities, pioneer families, agriculture

Rosemary Rebecca BARRIE was born the 12th of April 1930, , sister of Hugh and the youngest grandchild of William and Mary Ann. She is a valuable source of family and Melton history. She married Max Myers of ‘Burnbank’ Melton, on the 31 August 1951 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.Max was the youngest brother of Edna Barrie. Rosemary at the beachlocal identities

Childhood photograph of Bruce and Max Myers with Edna (Butler) Missenlocal identities

Back L-R Fred Coles, Brian Nolan, Bernard Shelly, Wal Williams and Emil Jongebloed [Pat]. Front Teddy Cochrane and Bill Fogarty at there First Communion.local identities, churches